Rifle target and frangible disk



Sept. 29, 1931.

M. D. VAN AUKEN RIFLE TARGET AND FRANGIBLE' DISK Original iled Jan. 9, 1929 INVENTOR.

minim-am Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNI S ATES PATENT OFFICE MARWOOD D. VAN AUKEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO VAN-AU-MATIC RIFLE TARGET 00., INC., A CORPORATION OF YORK RIFLE TARGET AND FRANGIBLE DISK Application filed January 9, 1929, Serial No. 331,223. ltenewed February 12, 1931.

This invention relates to rifle targets of the light arms class, in which the target proper is provided with an automatically operated magazine for the frangible and successively fed target centers and with unobstrusive seats for holding the disk centers individually in concentric position relativeto the target.

The main object of my invention is to provide a target of the character with an automatically replaceable combination disk center, of a frangible ingredient which when hit by a bullet will break or fragmentate into numerous pieces, radiating across the face of the target and resultin in a flash, spark, dust .or smoke, which will afford an interestingdis play to the marksmen and spectators, and at the instant will be replaced with a new color combination disk center, commonly known as a bulls eye, that is providing the automatic positioning of a new disk with a different dominant color aspect compared with thedisk that has just previously been broken, and preferably a color combination, on such succeeding disk, distinctive and contrasting.

The invention herein claimed is a further development of my initial invention, shown in the U. S. application Serial No. 250,896, filed January 31st, 1928, which was granted August 6,1929, as Patent No. 1,723,826.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. (#1) is a front View of a target with the upper part of the disk magazine d agonally cut away showing a fragmentary view thereof, and a full view of the results of a broken disk at the instant of the bullet impact against the target face; also displaying the fragmentation of a broken disk followed by the displayof a flash, spark, smoke or dust resulting from the bullet impact and compound ingredients used in the center section.

Fig. (#2) is a front view of the centersection showing the granulation mixture there- Fig. (#3) is a cross section of the rim and main body of the disk with a sectional open view of the center space for the insert, being the back and rim support for the center section.

Fig. is a section view of the center section showing the granulation therein and being a part of the combination disk.

Fig. (#5) is a front view of a target with the upper part of the disk magazine diagonaliy'cut away with a view of the assembled target ready for target shooting showing the assembled two colored combination disk, the outer rim being a distinct color from the center section, such as black and white.

a black centre desired visibility against a black or. dark target is realized, and as this is replaced with a new color-combination disk such as a disk with a white rim and a centre section of a color contrasting with black,

assures good visibility and also registers a change in the target and at a shooting distance a new and distinct target center replacing the one previously shattered by the bullet impact and covering the bullet mark. In this manner there is no impairment of the line of vision to the target center known as the bulls eye, that is the marksmans line of vision when aiming is at some part ofthe target and usually some particular sector of the fixed bulls-eye or other point which he sights with respect to the bulls-eye, and my particular and disk combinations successively provide uniformly clear visibility,

not impaired by any disfiguration of the target surface, such as spots by previous bullet impact, and also provides distinct visibility because of the fixed bulls-eye with at least two contrasting colors, assuring that under all conditions of light the bulls-eye will be distinctly seen. Likewise a sudden change in the successive disk dropping into position with at least one contrasting color to its pre- .decessor, registers distinctly a hit at the usual Thus in a specific case, with a white run and (78) commonly called bulls eye, which is supported on the face of the target body by a pair of pins (ll-ll) and the lip (17) of the magazine covering.

Gil the target body is secured a chute or magazine to hold the disks and feed the frangible centers separately to the holding means on the face of the target. The front wall consisting of heavy material to protect the di. 1 igainst breakage by the impact of bullets; the rear wall (1) being made it material; and the side walls (99) material. T he lower end of the (10) of the magazine terminating Isting parts (ill1) in rec. 'l'ldllQilJlO combination disk (78) .ion on the face of the target.

. l2 acting as braces to connect 'l body rims and (1S) and to afford a igid connection for the disk support pins 1-11).

The disk rim or main body (7) is made of a very frangible yet rigid material so as to aliord protection to the center section The center section is made of a less resin/fie ingredient and more easily broken in order to produce the required results, such flash, smoke, dust or similar display. iii e center section (8) may be made in a -te unit containing the explosive ingredients and may be assembled in the opening (16) of the disk rim A cross section (8 in Fig. showing the granulation of the explosive mixture, also a front view fit in space (16) shown in the cross section of disk (5) 9) shows the side walls of the magazine; (10) is the front and protective wall of r zine. (T) is a disk held in readiness to fall into the holding-means for the frangi ble disk centers on the face of the target. The high points (6) which are a part of the target body as shown in Fig. (#1) afford a rigid backing for the disk (78) to rest against, held by means of the support on the face of the target body in a manner to ease the assembled disk (78) to break into numerous pieces at the impact of the bullet; further objects of the holes or openings in the target body are to allow the fragmentation of the bullets to pass through into the opening or backing of wood or similar material to avoid the ricocheting of the bullets into the disk magazine; also to lessen the shock and vibration caused by the bullet impact, and further objects of the openings therein will act as recording means of each individual shoot of a group of marksmen by placing a paper in back of said opening, the same having a cross in center with radiating concentric rings, and as the bullets pass through the various openings (2) they will leave a hole, indicating where each shot took effect, and in the event thereof, will serve as a record.

The rim (3) of the target body extending slightly above the center body or disk level (78) which is provided to prevent ricocheting of the bullets away from the target, as means of protection to the marksmen and s1 ectators.

The target as a whole may be hung up by means provided at the top and resting on a rigid fixed bolt (14) at the bottom, by means of an extension (13) on the target body.

Thus with fixed targets, and particularly such as shown and described, the use of my disks of the particular characteristics hereinbefore set forth, provide great advantages in practical use for small arms target practice. In this sport or training, the distance from the target makes necessary the distinguishing of the result of the practice shooting, and the fixed target involves such characteristics as a relatively small bulls-eye which must be clearly visible, and in addition the hits must be clearly discernible whether at the moment or upon second vision and when the next aiming at the targettakes place. illustrated indicates a white annular band of substantial extent and a stippled or practically black centre, being one of the two-color combinations, while as above set forth the successive, or any successive disks falling into position would preferably have the white annular margin but a large centre field of a color contrasting with the black. )Vhile Various combinations and various changes in dimensions may be made, what I have shown and described provide the advantageous results which I seek to obtain in the practice of my invention.

Having fully described my invention 1 claim l. A target body including afrangible combination disk center in two distinct colors of two or more pieces supported in such manner wherein at the impact of the bullet it will readily fragmentate and radiate across the face of the target.

2. A target body including a frangible combination fiat disk with an annular rim and a disk center in distinct colors comprising a. mixture of gun powder or similar explosives in order to result in a smoke, flash, dust, spark or similar display at the bullet impact.

3. A target body including a frangible disk made in two or more sections in contrasting colors consisting of a shell or rim of a hard breakable substance to be assembled with a center section containing explosives or similar mixture.

4. A target body consisting of a flat disk or wafer including a combination breakable center section containing an ingredient of a nature, whereby at the impact of a bullet will result in dust, flash, smoke or of a similar nature.

5. A target for use with small arms com- As shown in the drawing, the disk V prising a target body with means to successively support a series of combination disks each made of more than one part and comprised of two or more contrasting colors.

6. A frangible disk for targets of the character described, consisting of a thin flat disk of substantially uniform thickness having on its face a white annular rim portion and a center of contrasting color.

7. A bulls-eye disk for fixed targets having a permanent color background, consisting of a substantially fiat wafer of frangible material having on one side an annular or marginal color extending substantially for half the diameter, and having in the centre a contrasting color surface, said marginal color contrasting with the background of the target for which its use is intended.

8. Bulls-eye disks for fixed target small arms shooting, comprising a series of two or more contrasting color disks for alternate use, each of said disks having on one side areas of two colors including a broad annular rim of a color distinct with the background of the target in which its use is intended, and having another major area of the disk front of a contrasting color with the annular portion.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of September, A. D. 1928.

MARWOOD D. VAN AUKEN. 

